On February 23, with two premieres at the home of the film festival – the cinema Splendid Palace – the National Film Awards have been opened “Great Kristaps” film program, which will include film premieres and screenings of films nominated for the award.

Until February 24, it is still possible to vote for the film that will receive the audience’s sympathy, but the closing ceremony will take place on February 26 in the Riga Circus, and it will be shown live by the Latvian public media portal lsm.lv and Latvijas Televīzija.

Filmmakers and viewers are waiting for such an important event, this morning’s “Spring” hosts together with the animation film director, graphic designer and children’s book illustrator Edmund Jansonwho this year is one of the jury members of “Lielā Kristaps”.. Edmunds himself is also a multiple laureate of “Big Kristaps”, whose films have been awarded at festivals all over the world.

After graduating from Vocational High School of Printing Art and courses for animators, from 1992 to 2001 Edmunds Jansons worked at the animation film studio “Dauka”. Having continued his education at the Latvian Academy of Culture’s TV directing course and at the State Institute of Cinematography, as well as at the Tallinn Art Academy, Edmunds Jansons has built a career by creating animated films made in various techniques, which have been awarded both in Latvia and abroad. Studios founded in 2001 Atom Art the director has created the children’s favorite “Raps” series, the full-length animated film “Jēkabs, Mimmi und slauješie suņi” and the internationally recognized films “Choir Tour”, “Honor Guard” and others. Edmunds Jansons also illustrates books and teaches animation direction at the Latvian Art Academy.